Dishcloth



0d 27.41943# M. B. GEBHAR-r A 2,299,950

DISH CLOTH Filed Oct.` 7. 1940 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Snventor Oct. 27, 1942.

M. B. AGEBHART DISH CLOTH Filed Oct. 7, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 (my, w. 5

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Oct. 27, 1942. i M, B, GEBHART 2,299,950

msn cLoTa- Filed oct. 7. 1940 :s sheets-sheet 3 Snnentor (lttornegs.

Patented Oct. 27, 1942 DISHCLOTH Marguerite Brown Gebhart, Coral Gables, Fla., aS-

signor to LeeGebhart, Coral Gables, Fla.

Application October 7, 1940, Serial No. 360,166

8 Claims. l(Cl. 15-208) Y The present invention relates to improvements in dish cloths, and has for an object to provide a dish cloth having improved cleansing and detergent properties which at the same time affords a great area of cloth surface to the bottoms and'vl side walls of pots, pans and to the internal surfaces of glass ware and the like, and which on the other hand admits of being squeezed or cornpressedA into relatively small compass to admit of its insertion in restricted surfaces.

'I'he invention has for another object to provide an improved dish cloth of manifold pleated construction in which the pleats form a very extensive linear edge adapted to assume the section of a sphere when the cloth is held in oneposition and upon which extensive edge may be crocheted or otherwise produced a thread or yarn having high scraping, rubbing or detergent qualities, which thread or yarn will be exposed on such spherical section, and which will substantially occupy all the exposed area of the cloth on such spherical section, particularly when the cloth in this form is compressed as by running the hand from the center along such cloth toward the spherical section.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved dish cloth in which a great linear amount of detergent thread on a substantially spherical section may be condensed into a very tight bunch or assemblage for hard rubbing purposes, or held. looser and larger where hard rubbing is not so desirable or where the foreign matter adhering to the dish or other utensil is easier dislodged.

The present invention also relates to the methodf of forming a dish cloth having the above qualities and consists in a series of improved steps which lead to the production of such a dish cloth as above indicated in a simple manner and with facility and at small cost, at the samev time to impart to the article a cohesion that will cause it to retain its necessary shape even in the face of the rigorous usage to which it must be subjected under conditions where dish cloths are commonly used.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fullyV described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is av perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the initial or central crochet work showing one.: method of f constructing. an improved dish cloth in accordance tion.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing a further advance stage in the |work.

Figure 3 is also a fragmentary perspective view showing a segment of the completed dish cloth.

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the complete dish cloth according to the invention.

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the dish cloth shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is also a front elevation with the central portion of the'dish cloth pulled up and the cloth in depending folds, and

Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of the dish cloth as shown in Figure 6.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in Figure l, I have illustrated the first step, or what might be the rst phase in the formation of a dish cloth according to the single embodiment thereof shown in the drawings.

In this gure Ill represents the origin ring which is shown to be formed of -crochet work including eight chain stitches joined together. Obviously it may be of any other type of stitch of any other number and in fact it is not necessary to form the device by vcrocheting but it may be fabricated in any other suitable manner. However crocheting lends itself peculiarly to a fabric such as I have developed. The origin loop is indicated at II. This loop is engaged with the crochet needle. Proceeding from this origin loop II the eight chain stitches forming the ring IU are made in a well known manner, after which a lock stitch I2 is formed to close the ring I0 and to form an attachment for the radiating arm I3 which is, or may be, composed of the chain stitches shown or any other type of stitch found desirable. This arm I3 extends off from the center of origin ring Il] as a radius of a second outer concentric circle or ring I4 shown in Figure 2. This second ring I4 is also advantageously formed of chain stitches of which the chain stitches I5 and I6 shown in Figure 1 form the origin or beginning of this second ring I4. In other words the radiating arm I3, as shown in Figure 2, consists of substantially three chain stitches indicated at I3, I3ab and I3b, the stitch I'I, shown in Figure l, being considered a part of the lock stitch I2.

. In other words coming offV the lock stitch l2 the stitches Il, I3, I3 and I3b are produced successively to form the radiating arm and the stitches I5 and I Ii are turned anti-clockwise to with the present invencommence the second concentric ring I4.

ReferringftosElgureaZ, a triplet crochet radiating arm I8 is begun from the stitch I6 and carried inwardly to the origin ring It) and then outwardly upon itself to the outer ring I4. Thereupon two chain stitches I9 and 20 are crocheted from the outer end of arm I8 to carry on the continuity of the upper ring I4. From the chain stitch 20 in ring I4 a second triple crochet is made running to the origin ring I and forming another radiating arm similar to the arm I3. This process is repeated to produce thirteen triple crochet arms I8, which in addition to the original chain arm I3 makes a complement of fourteen radiating arms which are spaced apart in order to produce a fabric having a mesh characteristic adapting it to fold and squeeze together and to be compacted in a facile manner.

The last stitch of ring Id is indicated at 2l and may be a lock stitch coupling the ring at its terminal end to the link I3b of the arm I3.

The inner ring Il) forms an origin point or a point of support or a point about which the fabric may be draped or folded and the concentric space between this origin ring IU and the ring I4 including the radiating arms forms a concentric zone. These zones are repeated in the fabric until a suitable number of progressive Zones of constantly increasing diameter is provided to secure a cloth of the requisite size.`

As Shown in Figure 2 the second outer zone may be begun by crocheting a number of chain stitches into a radiating arm 22 which is in radial alinement with the chain or initial arm of the first or innermost zone. The radiating arm 22 progresses into the ring 23 of chain or other stitches which is concentric with rings iii and It. At suitable intervals 'along the ring 23 there are produced triple crochet or other arms 25 joining the rings 23 and Iii. It will be noted that there aretwo arms 2e in the second zone to every one arm in the first Zone so that if there-are fourteen arms in the first zone the second zone may have twenty-eight such arms. l

Throughout each successive zone the number of arms are increased preferably in the ratio of two to one, although I do not wish to be understood as limited to any such ratio. v I have simply found that such ratio produces excellent results, particularly in a circular fabric comprising seven zones, as indicated in Figure 3, where starting with the number fourteen as a base for the innermost zone the ratio produces a relatively great number of arms in the seventh or outermost Zone, namely eight hundred and ninety-siX such arms; the effect of which is to produce an enormous nare in the outer portion of the fabric, as indicated in Figures Li, 5, 6 and 7, which is taken advantage of in a cloth of this character as hereinafter specified. v

Referring to Figure 3,'the third Zone is com prised within the ring25 and includes the triple crochet radiating arms 25 and the chainarm 2I which may form the point of original connection between the rings 23 and 25 in the same manner that the chain arms I3 and 22' perform their function for the rst two zones as heretofore described.

In Figure 3 similarl chain arms 28, 29, 3G and SI perform similar functions for the successive outer zones of which the rings are indicated at `32, 33, 34 and 35 and the triple crochet radiating A.arms at 3E, 37, 33 and 39.

`edge will be immensely increased in length over .Figure '7.

the normal circumferential edge of a cloth of the same diameter. The effect of this can best be seen in Figures 5 and '7 and to some extent in Figures 4 and 6. This edge, which in one position of the clothbecomes the abradant or cleansing or polishing surface of the cloth preferably has associated herewith a detergent thread 4I] which may with advantage be crocheted onto the ring 35 in a picot stitch having parts projecting outwardly to assist in the cleansing or polishing action. Preferably this thread 4G constituting the edge of the cloth is of some harsh or abradant material or some hard material adapted to resist wear and to produce the requisite cleansing action.

Preferably also this detergent thread 4G is in a contrasting color with respect to the color of the threads of the remaining portion of the cloth.

For instance the main body of the cloth constituting the various successive zone formations may be of a white or cream color while the edge thread 30 may be in red or some other suitable;

color.

At the central portion of the device, as indi cated most clearly in Figure 6, is a loop 4I orK other suitable device to act as a hanger in sus-- pending the cloth when not in use and also fori the convenience of inserting the finger there-- through when using the cloth or which enables; the fingers to grasp at a central portion of the: cloth in one hand while the other hand is run. outwardly to cause compression of the folds of.'

the cloth in the position shown in Figure 6.

From an inspection of Figure 4 it will be seenz that the fabric is preferably of a circular forma-` tion although it might be of any other form desired in which the various zones emanate concentrically from the center ring Iii to which the loop @i may be attached.

The ratio of increase of the radiating arms in successive outer sections need only be sufliicent 4to impart a flare or a wave-like character to the outer concentric portions of the fabric in order that the fabric may fall in folds, as indicated in Figures 4, 5 and 6 and create a wavy edge in which the waves are so multipled, as indicated in Figure 5, that theedge portion is returned upon itself many times. This contributes to form an edge of enormous length. Y

In point of use, the improved cloth may be used like any other dish cloth in similar circumstances and it will have high water and moisture absorbent qualities due to its mesh form and the character of its threads.

One important use of the cloth is illustrated in Figures 6 and '7. By holding the loop 4I and the cloth in a suspended condition therefrom, the mesh character of the cloth will enable it to droop from the loop It with all of its flared portionsdownward and with its wavy edge assuming roughly a position in which such edge lies in a section of a sphere. This condition is shown in Figure 7 in which the detergent thread fifi is shown as exposed in a rounded and convex form. Some idea of the enormous length of the detergent thread w may be obtained from this In the article as actually constructed the red contrasting color of thisdetergent thread 4Q well illustrates the effectiveness of its length when brought to the condition shownin Figure '7 and when compressed in this ball or spherical form as by holding the loop 1I in one hand and passing the other hand constrictive'lyA from the loc-p downwardly of the pendant fabric. This causes a compression of theffabric and the compacting of the detergent thread 40 into a hard mass which increases the detergent and abradant action of the thread t0. It also shows that substantially the entire exposed area of the cloth in the spherical section is that of the detergent thread 40. This detergent convex device may be grasped easily by the fabric shank between the loop 4| and the spherical head.

At the same time, from the view point of Figure 4, any pie-shaped section of the circular fabric may be squeezed off in one hand from the rest of the fabric to form localized portions of any desired size and of spherical or convex form if desired in order to fit into smaller necks of utensils or into smaller utensils or into confined spaces. Also the circular form of the cloth, as shown in Figures 4 and 5 will in the hands of the user exhibit a greatly increased bulk over what would ordinarily be expected from a circular cloth of this diameter and on that account the swabbing, absorbe-nt and long wearing qualities of the cloth are surprising.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. An improved dish cloth comprising a central member, successive concentric zones having their origin in said member and connected thereto and to one another and including in part spaced radiating arms, the arms in certain of said zones being multiplied over and above the arms in the next inner zone to an extent to impart to the outer zone a flare and a wavy linearly extensive outer edge for the cloth adapted, when said cloth is held by said member, to fall loosely into substantially the section of a sphere.

2. An improved dish cloth comprising a central member, successive zones extending outwardly from said member and consisting in part of arms, the arms in at least one zone over the arms in the next inner zone being multiplied to a greater extent than required merely by the greater distance from said central member of said zone to produce a flare in the outer portion of the cloth and a wavy edge of increased length over the normal concentric outer edge of a cloth of the same diameter, said wavy edge adapted naturally to fall into substantially the section of a sphere when the cloth is suspended I from said member, and a detergent thread along the increased and wavy line of said edge of the cloth.

3. An improved dish cloth comprising a member from which the cloth in one position is adapted to be a support, a plurality of zones of open work material progressing successively outward from said member and including in part arms, said arms `being increasing in number as the zones progress outwardly, the arms in at least one zone being multiplied over the normal increase to produce a flare in the cloth and a wavy outer edge of great length which is adapted to lie in substantially the section of a sphere when the cloth is held loosely suspended from said member, and a detergent thread crocheted with a picot stitch upon such wavy edge.

4. An improved dish cloth comprising a central member with means for supporting the cloth from said member, successive concentric zones of mesh material extending outwardly from said ring, each zone including radiating arms, the arms in each outer zone increasing in number over the arms in the respective next inner zone, one zone of said cloth having the arms thereof multiplied over said normal increase to impart a flare to the outer portion of the cloth and a wavy outer edge of greatly increased circumferential length over the normal circumference of a fabric of equal diameter, and a detergent thread crocheted about such wavy edge and having projections extending outwardly therefrom in a radial sense.

5. An improved dish cloth comprising an origin member, successive zones extending outwardly from said member and connected together and to said member and including in part connecting arms, the number of arms increasing in each progressive outer zone, the number of arms in at least one zone being increased greatly over the normal increment to impart flare to the outer portion of the cloth and a wavy edge of great length.

6. An improved dish cloth comprising a central ring, successive zones of mesh extending outwardly from said ring and each consisting of a ring and radiating spaced arms connecting the rings, the number of the arms in the innermost zone being a minimum, the number of arms in each successive outer ring increasing over the number of arms in the respective next inner ring by the ratio of two to one, said outer portion of the cloth in the outer zones thereof due to said ratio of increase of said arms having an extensive iiare and a greatly elongated terminal outer edge of wavy form.

7. An improved dish cloth comprising a crocheted fabric of substantially circular form comprising an inner origin ring, arms radiating outwardly from said origin ring, a second outer ring joining the outer ends of said arms and constituting with said arms a center zone of mesh fabric, a plurality of additional zones composed of concentric rings spaced apart and of progressively increasing diameters with radiating arms connected between the rings of adjacent zones, thenumber of arms in each successive outer zone increasing in number over the number of arms in the respective next inner zone, the fabric in its peripheral portion having a wavy edge of re1- atively great length over the normal circumferential length of a fabric of equal diameter.

8. The herein described method for forming dish cloths and the like which consists in crocheting an origin ring and radiating arms therefrom to a second outer concentric ring forming a first or inner zone, and repeating the crocheting of said arms and rings in successive outer concentric zones with the arms progressively increasing in number as the zones progress from the center to produce ilare in the outer portion of the fabric and a wavy perimetrical edge.

MARGUERITE BROWN GEBHART. 

